Heat sealing package



Jam.v 30, 1934. F. R. SCHMITT HEAT SEALING PAGKAGE Filed NOV. 20, 1930lmw ww mw, WT l mw S, 2 qm E Patented Jan. 30, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE HEAT SEALIN G PACKAGE Frank Reinhold Schmitt, Queens Village, N.Y.;

assignor to American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of NewJersey Application November 20, 1930 Serial No. 496,982

13 Claims.

and to provide a heat sealing method which is y applicable to existingwrapping machines without reconstruction of the wrapping and folding lmechanisms, and in which there is no danger of fouling of the machine bythe sealing material even though the same is applied to the wrappingmaterial prior to the several operations on it of wrapping and folding.Another object is to provide for the secure heat sealing or transparentcellulosic wrapping materials such as cellophane and to do this withoutappreciably marring the attractive transparency of this type of Wrappingmaterial. Another object of the invention is to provide improved sealingcompound applying mechanism. To this end applying means is providedwhich follows inequalities and variations of diameter of the reel and isdriven by said reel. With these and other objects not specificallymentioned in view, the invention consists in certain constructions andcombinations which will be hereinafter fully described and thenspecifically set forth in the claims hereunto appended. In theaccompanying drawing which forms a part of this specication and in whichlike -characters of reference indicate the same or like parts,` Fig. 1is a side elevation partly broken away of a wrapping machine equippedwith a 40 waxing attachment in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 isa detailed plane view partly broken away of the waxing attachment shownin Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a partially wrapped packageillustrating the application of the ew sealing method.

provided in combination with a wrapping machine having heat sealingmeans, a reel for supplying wrapping material to said-wrapping machine,and means coacting with the reel to apply longitudinal stripes of heatsealing compound along the outer layer of the reel for coaction with theheat sealing means to seal the package even though the wrapping materialused is not in itself heat sealable. In the best constructions said ap-In carrying the invention into effect there is.

plying means include a movably mounted reservoir, a device receiving thecompound from the reservoir and applying the same to the reel andmovable as a unit with said reservoir, and means yieldingly urging saidreservoir and applier to- Ward the reel. The method employed in carryingout the invention consists in applying longitudinal stripes of fusedsealing compound along the edges and preferably the edges only of astrip of wrapping materiaL' then wrappingVA a 65 length of the materialcircumferentially about the article with the edge portions overhangingvvthe end of the article, folding in the overhanging end portion againstthe end of the article in overlapping folds and applying heat to theAfolded edge portions to melt the compound and seal the overlapping foldstogether. In the best method of carrying out the improved method thesealing compound is of a quick setting nature in order to permithardening of the compound before the Wrapping and folding operations andpreferably the compound is appliedat the reel.

The various means referred to may be varied widely in constructionwithin the scope of the claims, for the particular device selected toillustrate the invention is butl one of many possible concreteembodiments of the same. The invention therefore is not to be restrictedto the precise details of the structure shownand described.

Referring now to the drawing the new heat sealing method and the ynewheat sealing attachment are illustrated in connection with a Wrappingmachine of the general type described in Patent No. 1,626,379, April 26,1927 to H. Y. Armstrong, but the present invention because it does notinterfere with or require modification of the folding means, and becauseattached to the generally accessible paper reel and supports therefore,is applicable to most Wrapping machines, and is particularly suited toconverting machines for wrapping and sealing in waxed paper to use onmaterials not hitherto susceptibleto satisfactory heat sealing.

Referring to'Figs. 1 and 2, the side frames 10 of the wrapping machinecarry brackets 1'1 which" 100 support cross-shafts 12, 13 and 14 of theWaxing attachment. The shaft 12 serves as support for a reel of wrappingmaterial such as cellophane or other material not readily or securelyscalable by heat. Loosely mounted on` shaft 13 are arms 15 105 carryingstuds 16 on which turn wheels 17 partly submerged in a quick settingheat sealing compound W placed in receptacles 18. A satisfactorycompound for this purpose and for use with cellophane is one consistingof 50% parafn and 50% 310 resin. This substantially transparent compoundwill cool and set hard before the paper is guided or folded. Receptacles18 for the compound carry electric heaters 19 which melt the Wax andkeep it at the proper temperature. Fastened to the reservoirs 18 arescrapers 20 which remove the surplus wax from the wheels 17 as they movepast the same. At the bottom of the receptacles 18 are lugs 21 carryingstuds 22 on which are loosely fitted the arms 23 the other ends of whichare carried by cross-shaft 14. Arms 24 attached to shaft 13 carry bars25 on which are mounted the adjustable lweights 26. The shaft 13 carriesblocks 27 attached to which are the studs 28 passing through blocks 29,the other ends of which 'are connected to shaft 14. Thus the applierwheels 17 will be yieldingly urged against the lower side of the reel,and can readily follow inequalities and changes of size of the reel.

The wrapping material from reel C is threaded around the rollers 30, 3land 32 and is then passed over plate 33 and hangs down from roller 34 infront of the delivery runway 35 of the packaging machine. By the timethe wrapper reaches the roller 30 the sealing compound is hard and therewill be no sticking to the roll. As the package P to be wrapped isadvanced to the swinging table 36 in its downmost position (dottedlines) by a pusher 37 operated by a lever 38, the down-hanging wrapperweb C is carried along by the package, thereby partly folding the samearound the latter. The wrapper C, being carried forward in this manner,unwinds from the reel C a sumcient length of wrapping material for thenext package. The reel, in unwinding, rotates the waxing wheels 17whereby a longitudinal stripe of wax is deposited at each edge of thewrapper-web C. As the diameter of the reel C gradually decreases byunwinding, the weights 26 descend and thereby lift the Waxing wheels 17and the receptacles 18, and, with them, the arms 23 which hold them in ahorizontal position.

Upon entering of the package in position on table 36, the plates 39close upon thepackage, thereby 'tucking the forward side-flaps of thepackage and holding them in position while the table 36 ascends to itsup-position as shown (full lines) in Fig. 1. In approaching the latterposition, the flaps'of the top-fold encounter the stationary folders 40resiliently attached to adjustable arms carried by kthe wrapping machineframe 10, thereby causing the top-flaps of the wrapper to be foldedagainst the package.

On being thereupon transferred onto runway 41 by any suitable conveyermechanism such as pushers not shown, the side flaps of the package areclamped between stationary side-folding plates 42, also resilientlycarried by adjustable arms. At this point the sheet of wrapping materialhas been wrapped completely about the circumference of the article withthe stripes of sealing compound on the outside. As the package advanceson runway 41, its still open bottom nap at each side enters a verticallyinclined slot formed between the first side-folding plate 42 and asecond side-folding plate 43, and is thereby gradually folded up. Onleaving the foldingplates 43, the wrapping of the package is complete,the packing having the appearance seen at P. In order to seal ends ofthe package already striped with hardened sealing compound, the

ers 47 so that the sealing operation is automati- Leashes callyperformed as the package is delivered from the machine.

'The arms 15 carrying the waxing rollers 17 are readily adjusted fordiiferent widths of wrapping material as, required for different sizesof packages, by simply loosening the thumb-screws 44 carried by blocks27 and sliding the latter on their shafts 13 and 14 to suit the width ofthe vnew wrapper web. The springs 45, pressing against the blocks 27 andthe arms 24, hold the latter in place, the end surfaces of the hubs ofarms 24 having axial projections 46 which interlock with correspondingdepressions in the hubs of arms l5, thus automatically clutching thehubs together when the blocks 27 are in place. While the blocks 27 areout of position the weights 26 are disengaged, permitting the rollers 16to drop out of the way of the new reel to be inserted.

The wax stripes W along the edges and outer surfaces of the end-flaps,as shown in Fig. 3, provide crisscrossed stripes of adhesive, at leastone being located between each fold so that the heat employed during andafter the folding operations effects a perfect sealing of the package.

1t will be noted that by applying the adhesive during unreeling and atthe reel instead before reeling the 4unevenness'of the reel (andconsequent unevenness of feeding) which would result from the extrathickness of the adhesive is avoided. l Cellophane, for example, is sothin that a stripe of adhesive would form a substantial fraction of thetotal thickness.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a wrapping machine having heat sealing means, ofa reel for supplying wrapping material to said machine, and

means coacting with the reel to apply longitudinal stripes of a heatsealing compound along the outer layer on the reel for coaction withsaid heat sealing means.

2. The combination with a wrapping machine having heat sealing means, ofa reel for supplying wrapping material to said machine, and means.coacting with the reel to apply longitudinal stripes of a heat sealingcompound along the outer layer on the reel for coaction with, said heatsealing means, said applying means including a movably mountedreceptacle for the compound, a device for receiving the compound fromthe receptacle and applying the same to the reel and movable'as a unitwith said receptacle and means yieldingly urging said receptacle and fapplier toward the reel.

3. The combination with a wrapping machine having heat sealing devices,of a reel for supplying wrapping material to said machine, means forapplying a stripe of heat scalable adhesive to the material while on thereel, including a receptacle for the adhesive and an adhesive applyingwheel dipping in said receptacle and adapted to engage the outer layerof wrapping material on said reel, mechanism supporting said receptacleand wheel as a unit for movement toward and away from the reel, anddevices coacting with said mechanism to yieldingly urge the receptacleand wheel toward the reel.

4. The combination with a wrapping machine having heat sealing devices,of a reel for supplyingwrapping material to said machine, Ameans forapplying astripe of heat scalable adhesive to the material while on thereel, including a relll@ ceptacle for the adhesive and an adhesiveapplying wheeldipping in said receptacle and adapted to engage the outerlayer of wrapping material on said reel, mechanism for supporting saidreceptacle and reel as a unit for movement toward and away from thereel, and devices coating with plying wheel dipping in said receptacleand adapted to engage the outer layer of wrapping ma terial on saidreel, mechanism supporting said receptacle and wheel as a unit formovement toward and away from the reel, and devices coacting with saidmechanism to yieldingly urge the receptacle and wheel toward the reel,said mechanism comprising a pivoted arm supporting at one end thereceptacle and counterbalanced at the other end, and linkage formaintaining said receptacle horizontal as the arm changes position.

6. The combination with awrapping machine having heat sealing devices,of a reel for supplying wrapping material to said machine, means forapplying a stripe of heat scalable adhesive to the material while on thereel, including a receptacle for the adhesive and an adhesive applyingwheel dipping in said receptacle and adapted to engage the outer layerof wrapping material on said reel, mechanism supporting said receptacleand wheel as a unit for movement toward and away from'the reel, devicescoacting with said mechanism to yieldingly urge the receptacle andwheeltoward the reel, and a heater secured in operative relation to saidreceptacle for keeping the adhesive in fused condition.

7. The combination with a wrapping machine having heat sealing devices,of a reel for supplying wrapping material to said machine, means forapplying a stripe of heat sealabe adhesive to the material while on thereel, including a receptacle for the adhesive and an adhesive applyingwheel dipping in said receptacle and adapted to engage the outer layerof wrapping `material on said reel, mechanism supporting said receptacleand wheel\as a unit for movement toward and away from the reel, anddevices coacting with said mechanism to yieldingly urge the receptacleand wheel toward the reel, said mechanism comprising a counter balancedarm extending under the reel, a shaft on the end of said arm, theadhesive receptacle being swung o n said shaft and the adhesive applyingwheel being rotatably carried on said shaft and dipping in thereceptacle, and a pivoted link connected to said receptacle and havingan anchorage for maintaining the receptacle horizontal.

8. The combination with a reel for supplying wrapping material, of meansfor applying a stripe of adhesive to the material-while on the reel,

including al receptacle for the adhesive and an adhesive applying wheeldipping in said receptacle and adapted to engage the outer layer ofwrapping material on said reel, mechanism supporting said receptacle andwheel as a unit for movement toward and alvay from the reel, and devicescoacting with said mechanism to yieldingly urge the receptacleand wheeltoward the reel.

9. The combination with a reel for supplying wrapping material, of meansfor applying a stripe of adhesive to the material while on the reel,including a receptacle for the adhesive and an adhesive applying wheeldipping in said receptacle and adapted to engage the outer layer ofwrapping material on said reel, mechanism supporting said receptacle andwheel as a unit for movement toward and away from the reel, and devicescoacting with'said mechanism to yieldingly urge the receptacle and wheeltoward the reel, said mechanism having means for maintaining thereceptacle horizontal during movement thereof.

10. The combination with a reel for supplying wrapping material, ofmeans for applying a stripe of adhesive to the material while on thereel, including a receptacle for the adhesive and an adhesive applyingwheel dipping in said receptacle and adapted to engage the outer layerof wrapping material on said reel, mechanism supporting said receptacleand wheel as a unit for movement toward and away from the reel, anddevices coacting with said mechanism to yieldingly urge the receptacleand wheel toward the reel, said mechanism comprising a pivoted armsupporting at one end the receptacle and counter balanced at the otherend and linkage for maintaining said receptacle horizontal as the armchanges position.

1l. The combination with a reel for supplying wrapping material, ofmeans for applying a stripe of adhesive to the material while on thereel, including a receptacle for the adhesive and an adhesive applyingwheel dipping in said receptacle and adapted to engage the outer layerof wrapping material on said reel, mechanism supporting said receptacleand wheel as a unit for movement toward and away from the reel, devicescoacting with said mechanism to yieldingly urge the receptacle and wheeltoward the reel, and a heater secured in operative relation to saidreceptacle for keeping the adhesive in fused condition.

12. The combination with a reel for supplying wrapping material, ofmeans for applying a stripe of adhesive to the material while on the-reel, including a receptacle for the adhesive and an adhesive applyingwheel dipping in said receptacle and 'adapted to engage the outer layerof wrapping material on said reel, mechanism supporting said receptacleand wheel as a unit for movement toward and away from the reel, anddevices coacting with said mechanism to yieldingly urge the receptacleand wheel toward the reel said mechanism comprising a counter balancedarm extending under the reel, a shaft on the end of said arm, theadhesive receptacle being swung on said shaft and the ,adhesive applyingwheel being rotatably carried on said shaft and dipping in thereceptacle and a pivoted link connected to said receptacle and having ananchorage for maintaining the receptacle horizontal.

13. The combination with a wrapping machine having'heat sealing devices,of a reel for supplying wrapping material to said machine, a reservoirfor providing a supply of heat sealing compound and compound applyingmeans receiving the compound from said reservoir and applying stripesthereof to the wrapping material on said reel, said applying meansincluding an applying wheel dipping in the reservoir, and

means for yieldingly urging said wheel against the reel to cause saidwheel to be driven thereby. if FRANK RElNHOLD SCHMITT.

